The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-01
ChriSt'S Guests.

Hospitab!e households arc thought
by cheir friends and neighbors to dc
all that could possibly be required OF
them in the way of entertaining. This
may be very true, and they themselves
may say, "Nobody can tell me any
thing on that point" but perhaps /
could give suggestion.
Run your eye over the list of people
who have stayed under your roof, for
more or fewer days, during the last
year. Have they not been for your
amusement, because they were congo
nial companions? They, perhaps, were
people accustomed to move about from
place to place, and be feted. For them
your house and entertainment was
very pleasant, but was just like what
they were entirely in the habit of see"
ing in their many wanderings. You
enjoyed them, no doubt, and may
have had your host-heart quickened
by their expressed appreciation OF you
and your belongings, and also may
have been fiattered by the attention
they created in your neighborhood.
My guests may not shed luster OH
your name, but you will delight them
immeasurably more than any of these
fine guests.
Now make another list of your poor,
forlorn, disappointed, discouraged ac-
quaintances. Choose among them
one or two, and ask them to pay you a
visit. Let me imagine one of them
may be a teacher, who has taught
squirming children all last winter, and
perhaps the winter before, with no
break in the everyday life, being able
to say the Monday of one week what
she should he doing at that hour the
next Monday. She is too poor to pay
the car fare and board at the simplest
place for vacation of only a week or
two. How her face would light up
and glow when your letter dropped in
her lap! This would be the first ex-
preston, and then there would fit a
shadow across that beaming smile: 80
she is accustomed to entertain grand,
finely dressed people that poor ME will
not be good enough for her. But I'll
try it," Now, my friend, do not dis
appoint her. but treat her kindly, very
kindly, and trouble yourself to amuse
her. You may have many ticklish
social questions to arrange, but always
try to save her feelings. If you bring
her to your house to be slighted she
will find no rest.
If this particular one on your list
does not please you, try one of the
others. A rich old maid friend, who
is deaf and helpless, and very queer,
who has O tender heart, but hidden
under so many speeches that no one
has ever tried to find it. Bring her,
and see if your merry house and kind
ways cannot soften her. Then you
may have a delicate little country
cousin to whom change would be OF
benefit. If anybody wants to try my
plan she will find her mind full Of ap-
plicants for hospitality. Perhaps you
may say, my house is too lonely, and
quiet, and sad, to be of service to any
one" This very quiet might be O
paradise to some woman who has con-
stantly the care of her many children
on her mind. AS she talked of the
garments to be made and mended, of
the hurt feelings and hurt bodies, of
the ever present burden Of responsible
ity, you, lonely and wearied, might
have your eyes opened to see that,
after all, your lot was not the very
worst, thus finding that both were
helped to 60 on very cheerfully with
lifeis burdens and difficulties.
This Christ-like giving of pleasure
to those who cannot give in return will
be most warmly smiled on by Him
who saith: "Inasmuch as you have
done it unto one of the least of these
my brethren, We have done it unto
me-" BY your trying this scheme
others mi ight be led to see that they
too could brighten hours in dark and
lonely lives. Yours thus will be q
double benefit.